In pictures: Millions head to the polls in Russia

Vladimir Putin is expected to cruise to victory, but opponents have alleged vote fraud.

MILLIONS OF RUSSIANS will cast their vote today in presidential elections expected to return Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin for a third term.

Opinion polls have shown Putin positioned to easily defeat four other candidates and return to the post he held in 2000-2008.

But opponents of Putin are already listing alleged voting irregularities online and claiming that the ballot has been tainted by fraud, Reuters reports.

Webcams have been installed in polling stations in an effort to reassure observers that the process is transparent. But they have been dismissed by critics. “You can’t see how they count the votes on a web camera,” volunteer monitor Ilya Mishchenko told the Financial Times.

Protests appear inevitable after the ballot, with Putin’s United Russia party widely perceived as having rigged parliamentary elections in December.

The Interior Ministry called in 6,000 police reinforcements to the capital from other regions, the state news agency ITAR-Tass reported Friday.

In pictures: Millions head to the polls in Russia

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- Additional reporting from AP

Watch: Vladimir Putin adverts attempt to woo ‘virgin voters’>

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In pictures: Millions head to the polls in Russia

Russia goes to the polls

Russia goes to the polls

Russia goes to the polls

Russia goes to the polls

Russia goes to the polls

Russia goes to the polls

Russia goes to the polls

Russia goes to the polls

Russia goes to the polls

Russia goes to the polls

Russia goes to the polls

Watch: Vladimir Putin adverts attempt to woo ‘virgin voters’>

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.